Footwear Retailer Of The Month Cheryl T
Name: Karen Little Shop: Haswell Shoes Ltd Brands: Rohde, Ara, Loake, Van Dal, Waldlaufer, Easy B, Dr Martens, Start-rite, Clarks, Cotswold (Gardiner Bros) Home town: Nuneaton Landline: 024 76 382525 Mob: 07966067223
1. How did you get into footwear? T
ell us about your background and your current business? In 1978 I joined the staff of ‘Jack Venn’ in Summertown, North Oxford, where I was taught by the master. One of the hardest lessons to learn but possibly the quickest was that every pair of shoes you sold was fitted by you – if the shoes came back and you had fitted them wrongly the loss was deducted from your wages – believe me you didn’t make many mistakes. This has stayed with me throughout my career in shoe fitting.
aylor talks to Karen Little of Haswell Shoes Ltd Q&A:
I left in 1982 to try my hand at estate agency, and then in 1985 I had my son, Paul, and became a stay at home mum for the next four years. In 1990 I wanted to get back in harness and where else would I look but the shoe industry (it gets in your blood) and I started work part-time at Haswell Shoes, Nuneaton working for Trevor Haswell who had been in the business man and boy having taken over the business in the 60’s (the business has traded on it’s current site since 1947). In 1998 having completed my HNC in Business I discussed the possibility of ‘taking over’ the business. February 1st 1999 my dream was realised and I became the proud owner/manager of Haswell Shoes Ltd. In 2002 I qualified as a member of The Society of Shoefitters having decided not to take the entrance examination and completing the full 10 month course and gaining ‘Student of the Year’ I thought I had a pretty good knowledge of the foot and shoe fitting but I learnt so much more, it was definitely worth it. Our specialist areas of shoe fitting centre around children and over 40’s (particularly those with existing foot problems). We endeavour to treat our customers the way we would like to be treated ourselves and I try to pass my ethics and principles on to my staff.
2. Where are your premises located and how many people do you employ? Do you have a high turnover of staff? T
ell us about your shop(s), the local area, your customers and their requirements? Every member of staff receives on the job training by myself and other experienced members of staff. There are currently, myself (full time), six part-time staff (the newest has been with me for about 10 years) plus a Saturday person and an occasionally returning university student (invaluable at back to school).
26 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • APRIL 011
MAY 22012
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